Driving through the Wisconsin “wilderness” on a recent trip to the United States, I couldn’t help but be sucked into the appeal of small-town life. From handmade furniture to homemade doughnuts, the small-scale operations were a comforting respite from the rampant commercialism to which most of us are normally subjected to. Obviously we were never too far away from a Wal-Mart or a Starbucks, but far enough that most of the people working in the shops we went into were also the manufacturers. Now I know the reality, as my road trip companions put it, is that most of the time “it is just more practical and affordable to go to Ikea.”
I am not trying to romanticise what is often a lot of effort expended without much profit, but I often find we are losing something when these skills disappear. I know machines were made to simplify our tasks but sometimes it feels like they’re making us obsolete. With everything being so mass-produced, from our vegetables to our faux-mahogany coffee tables, there is an organic element being lost.
While I am most definitely made for big cities, I hold firmly to the belief that we can have a bit of both. Obviously you will not able to replace valuable real estate with large organic farms in the middle of downtown Abu Dhabi or ask that people start making their own dining-room tables, but I think we can show more support for small local businesses, facilitate access to local produce and create a more permanent space for traditional trades and crafts to be showcased.
Living in New York City for more than a decade, I was able to witness the expansion of this co-op culture. Not only in the rise in popularity of community gardens and the creation of more “green spaces”, but also in the increase of farmers’ markets and flea markets around the city that sold everything from locally made cheese to handmade jewellery.
I know many people who have small farmhouses outside Abu Dhabi and many grow some vegetables throughout the year. These same people often end up with surplus produce and could benefit from some community or co-op to sell them. I think we can capitalise on having either individuals or groups of farmers bringing fresh produce to us more regularly. With this ever-growing trend of going organic, we do not all need to be consuming chia seeds and quinoa to be healthy. The benefit of fresh produce is just as significant and extends beyond the fact that fresh vegetables and herbs really do taste different. Buying locally is better overall for the environment (as it reduces costs of transport), can stimulate the local economy, is healthier for the consumer, and also contributes to community building.
While cultural exhibitions and places like the Women’s Handicraft Centre in Abu Dhabi exist, where you can go to see local women weaving, embroidering, sewing, making baskets and other methods of handicrafts I feel that most people consider these places as something for tourists. If we staged weekly markets, we would be able help keep traditional skills alive by creating a more permanent and community engaging outlets for them.
For someone who was born and raised abroad, I unapologetically indulge in acquiring traditional ornaments when given the chance. Perhaps it’s simply a nostalgia for tradition and heritage, but I would love it if there were more social opportunities to mix with older members of Emirati society and be able to learn from them.
I still lament the fact that I never had the chance to learn recipes for traditional dishes that my grandmother used to make for us when I would come visit. The informal setting provided by a market would be beneficial and enjoyable not only in the sense of watching people execute their craft but also in the opportunity that people would have to get to know about Emirati history, its intangible heritage and mix more broadly with all members of society.
In a time of increasing globalisation that has made it so that we have access to produce from all around the world and can shop at the same stores whether you’re in New York or Bangkok, it would be nice to have more opportunities to engage with local industries, even if it’s just a reminder that someone toiled over the raspberries that you enjoyed or made that necklace you wear.
Fatima Al Shamsi is an Emirati who recently returned from New York City after pursuing a master’s degree in Global Affairs at New York University
